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Sorry if this has been talked about as I don't read back much beyond the last post, is the main reason for accidents on that road the overtaking lanes that change here and there?

I think there's a huge amount of side roads which come out onto the main A5 road which doesn't help either.


A bit like the A1 from Hillsborough to Newry but at least that's dual carriageway.

There is a shocking lack of progress on the A1, and likely there will be shocking lack of progress on the A5.

Well they overcame a 13pt deficit against yourselves who I would consider a top team. Who needs a defence when you have 4 or 5 players who can score 2s for fun?

Are they always going to score 2s for fun though? What happens if they just aren't landing them?

They could score a goal or two. The Clan Èireann defence is better than a lot of teams.

Portadown Deputy District Master Alastair Power:

I have a question for leadership of nationalism tonight - are they for the rule of law? Because if they are, why can we not parade down our road?

Our road?! Saying the quiet part loud.

He at least   called  it the GARVAGHY road, not the usual unionist pronunciation GARVACKY road.

On that, surely that has to be a deliberately conscious   thing from unionists?  Or with their planter genes , are they actually incapable of  pronouncing it correctly?

is Garvaghy not a pidgin version of Garbhachadh? I'd say the unionists are right

If the court case changes nothing, do the residents sit down on the road on Sunday morning, and what do the police do then?  I can't see PSNI dragging people off the road so do they usher orangemen down the side? In a certain way it's actually farcical.
It's a pity young people are being exposed to it.  All the shite in the 90's was just depressing and dangerous.

I have a feeling  they will do a sit down protest. Thousands  of people, coming in from  the surrounding areas.

although they'll probably have the road  cordoned off with land rovers  and riot gear police. It'll take a lot of  effort to keep them  out though

Thousands of people conveys a message of orchestrated protest, while the residents actually aren't bothered. A few locals would be better.

50 years ago today, 4 youths got together to form a band on the northside of Dublin. They did alright.

I actually know 2 garages that still have the free air. Beside it is the free water.  Obviously on a need to know basis...and nobody else needs to know. 


They are both in different counties and I'm surprised they haven't went automatic.


Funny enough, the odd time I go to one of them, the pressure guage thing is broke and it's not working. I'd go back a month later thinking they'll make it 'pay for air' machine but no, fixed and ready for action.


Some of the new machines give you 8 mins for £2. Very expensive for 30 sec. They should regulate the time and adjust that. Be fairer but, as someone above says, it makes money. In fairness, might be costly enough to install a machine like that.

I keep a wee electric pump in the yoke, which has paid for itself several times in terms of getting home with a puncture, but it also prevents any need to deal with price gouging in garages.

Exactly, the whole thing is just daft. Didn't Audi build a next generation car specifically for Hitler? I'm sure Volkswagen aren't squeaky clean either. Are we to cancel them too?

Adidas and Hugo Boss made the uniforms I think. Fanta was created by the Nazi's instead of Coca Cola.

As far as I'm aware none of them are currently backing/funding nazi's though (except Coke). Allianz are so should be boycotted

Who's the nazis?

Israel are the modern day equivalent. Maybe worse as most people could agree that the Nazis were bad...

This is a devaluation of language. Israel is clearly wrong, but worse than the Nazis is not truthful

From a few years ago

https://wnyc.org/story/76684-giants-and-jets-end-talks-with-allianz/

The New York Giants and Jets have canceled negotiations on stadium naming rights with a German insurance company that once had ties to the Nazis. Allianz had been seeking a deal to put its name on the stadium being built by both teams in the Meadowlands. The deal could have been worth an estimated $30 million a year. Allianz once insured Nazi death camps and refused to pay life insurance claims to its Jewish clients, instead granting the proceeds to the party.

The proposed deal was criticized by Jewish organizations, Holocaust survivors and football fans who said seeing the company's name emblazoned on the stadium would be a constant reminder of the company's ties to the Holocaust. Allianz officials argued that the company has atoned for its former support of the National Socialist regime by supporting reparations programs and working to become a responsible company and good corporate citizen.

Whatever about the current case, which is not entirely clear, this idea that a company with the same name did something 80 years ago is a bit out. Someone could assert that a US company had discriminated against Negroes in the 1930s and that they should not get business today. Indeed, in the GAA world you could assert that the BBC should not be allowed cover the Ulster championship owing to their pandering to child abusers like Jimmy Savile.

I don't believe camogie has the same amount of players as hurling.

Just don't

They seem a rough crowd
https://x.com/buff_egan/status/2098506764228669741

[Unionists have influence in a UI because they make up a bloc that can decide coalitions etc. They have considerably more votes than the province of Connacht.]

There will be some form of "home rule' there.
Then ye can continue yer separate education system, motor reg plates, keep an International soccer team , enter Commonwealth games etc.
Not to mention dual nationality under GFA.

So stay the way it is now?

Stormont about as much use as a chocolate teapot, can't think of anyone that be sad to see it go bar the ones getting £ out of it lol

I agree with your analysis of the performance of Stormont. But that is a separate point.

I think everyone agrees on the following 2 points.

1) the only path to a united ireland is that partially outlined in the GFA ie 2 synchronous referenda.
2) the GFA ascribes the role of calling for the northern referendum to the Secretary of State (and by implication to the UK government or its successor).

These points alone preclude the idea that a northern referendum could ever be called without a water tight guarantee that the rights of a minority would be protected via power sharing, whatever the outcome.

When projecting what a new Ireland would look like I think we would do well to bear this in mind. Assuming that UK/USA/EU are operating on the basis that the agreement they are bound to uphold is founded on the basis that power sharing in NI only holds during the era when Unionists are in the majority is at best foolhardy. Equally foolhardy is to assume that those "in the centre" who could be persuaded either way in a northern referendum (and potentially in a southern referendum also) would not look for some reassurance that northern unionism would not be consigned to powerless position whilst northern nationalism gets the opportunity to repeat all of unionism's earlier mistakes.

What we do not what is a Stormont where a minority of unionists are blocking every bloody thing. Unionists have influence in a UI because they make up a bloc that can decide coalitions etc. They have considerably more votes than the province of Connacht.

I would suggest that the likelihood of US/EU and more importantly UK (or its successor) being convinced by that argument is zero. And without the latter (and probably all 3) being convinced you won't get your northern referendum. My prediction is that a better answer will be required and the work that goes into working out what a new Ireland looks like will have to tease this out. My sense is that a new Ireland will have to accommodate a Northern Ireland and power-sharing within it. That shouldn't deter people from pursuing a UI. Ireland is by and large, a modern and forward looking place. These things are all achievable but people pretending that there won't be a NI or power sharing are not really engaging in the real debate.

People can have rights, and a new agreement can be proposed. But we cannot have a scenario where a minority at Stormont can thwart that something a majority voted for by have a veto on every individual change as it arises.

There will be some form of "home rule' there.
Then ye can continue yer separate education system, motor reg plates, keep an International soccer team , enter Commonwealth games etc.
Not to mention dual nationality under GFA.

So stay the way it is now?

Stormont about as much use as a chocolate teapot, can't think of anyone that be sad to see it go bar the ones getting £ out of it lol

I agree with your analysis of the performance of Stormont. But that is a separate point.

I think everyone agrees on the following 2 points.

1) the only path to a united ireland is that partially outlined in the GFA ie 2 synchronous referenda.
2) the GFA ascribes the role of calling for the northern referendum to the Secretary of State (and by implication to the UK government or its successor).

These points alone preclude the idea that a northern referendum could ever be called without a water tight guarantee that the rights of a minority would be protected via power sharing, whatever the outcome.

When projecting what a new Ireland would look like I think we would do well to bear this in mind. Assuming that UK/USA/EU are operating on the basis that the agreement they are bound to uphold is founded on the basis that power sharing in NI only holds during the era when Unionists are in the majority is at best foolhardy. Equally foolhardy is to assume that those "in the centre" who could be persuaded either way in a northern referendum (and potentially in a southern referendum also) would not look for some reassurance that northern unionism would not be consigned to powerless position whilst northern nationalism gets the opportunity to repeat all of unionism's earlier mistakes.

What we do not what is a Stormont where a minority of unionists are blocking every bloody thing. Unionists have influence in a UI because they make up a bloc that can decide coalitions etc. They have considerably more votes than the province of Connacht.

Was needing oil for the colder weather and had been sitting for ages now not knowing when to strike on it but looks like i've made an error waiting as it's now thru the roof. I still have some left in the tank but when do you buy?

When it happens again - you need to look at somewhere like here every week:
https://www.consumercouncil.org.uk/home-heating/price-checker/archive

and ask yourself "how much lower could it realistically go - and am I saving much by taking the risk and waiting?".


It was well down at start of July. We dithered a week and missed the absolute dip - but it was pretty close to the norm over the 3 years before it.

July was the time to order, as there is a summer effect as well as the international relations aspect.

It is strange the effects that events can have. A guy I know was getting a job from a US multinational, who then froze the process after 9/11. So, being September, he headed off to to a Masters degree instead. No doubt such a course might redirect your future somewhat, but on this course he met his wife, so it had a major effect and he would never have met her except for 9/11.

Ireland can be just called Ireland, not Republic of Ireland, as that, to the unionist, might appease the name

It already is, no change there.

Devolved government in the regions of the provinces, so running the place mainly is still within its own areas

what are these going to do?

An inclusive National Anthem, (I know, but hear me out)

A nation once again?

Inclusion for the Northern prods to be still part of the British Commonwealth, having that dual nationality

We could all join the Commonwealth as Ireland has independent links to Australia, Canada etc.

50 years of NHS continued funding for those that feel they want that, others may decide to follow a Southern Ireland format

Do you mean free care or the lower level of expenditure?

All public state pensions to be honored until they die, if Northerners want to keep their 'own' state pension they can

Pensions are complex, but people in the NI may mostly want the higher Irish rates.

Benefits to match the best available. Be that the UK one or the Irish one

Sinn Féin would vote for that. Will we also have the highest taxes of either of the present systems to pay for it?

The 12th is still a National Holiday, parades to still be allowed and obviously parades commission still reviewing them

The battle of the Boyne is not a proper thing to commemorate in a holiday. But you could put the second Monday in July as a holiday and let people spend it as they wish. 

Jarlath on the radio now. He said that he wanted a detailed plan to be put to a GAA congress (regular or special), and not just proceed on a general approval of the idea. He also said that the ladies associations were not bringing much funding to the party, so they could not expect equal expenditure immediately.